The nine-year-old Oscar-nominated actress is the final honoree for Variety’s 2013 Power of Youth. A part of the American Heart Association, Teaching Gardens reaches out to elementary school kids and is designed to combat obesity and encourage kids to include more fresh fruit and vegetables in their diets.

“It teaches them how to grow gardens, and it also teaches them how to eat healthy so they can live a long life,” Quvenzhaneshared. “If kids don’t eat the right things, they’ll live a short life. So what I say is, ‘Go green and live longer.’”

She added, “I like gardening, and I’m putting one in the back yard of my house. I’m planting lettuce, carrots and all kinds of vegetables from seed packets. Since my mom likes to cook lots of fresh vegetables, it just makes sense. I’ll be helping other kids plant their own gardens after school, so it’s very exciting.”